PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neil Patrick Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Grant Benton enters the cage!

Patrick Harris
vs
Benton

183 cm
29
180 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

180 cm
35
185 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neil Patrick Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Harris.
Benton clobbers Harris with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Neil Patrick Harris has been cut.
Benton throws a good cross that connects.
Benton has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Harris is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Harris avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benton as he avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Harris.
Harris half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
The fighters circling - Benton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benton pinned against the cage. Benton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil Patrick Harris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton missing with a left hand there. Harris was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Harris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Harris lands in his opponent's guard.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Harris from controlling successfully.
Benton pulls Harris in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benton has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Harris is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Benton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benton lands a body shot.

Benton breaks from the clinch.
Harris shoots for a double leg takedown but Benton sprawls well. He's pushed Harris's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Benton! But no joy.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benton misses with an uppercut. Harris saw that one coming.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch but Benton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Benton misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Harris moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benton is defending well.
Benton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benton tries a body shot but Harris blocks it.

Benton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Harris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benton's waist but Benton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harris off to one side.
Benton now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Benton misses with the combination.
Harris steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benton.
Benton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benton cracks Harris with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton thuds his right hand into Harris's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Harris looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benton is fending him off so far but Harris persists. Nope, Benton circles away and we're back to standing.
Benton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benton scores with the left hand. Harris knows he should have avoided that one.

Harris is rocked!
Benton throws a hook but Harris avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Harris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harris shoots in for a takedown but Benton shows good takedown defense.
Benton lands with a nice body punch.
Harris with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benton counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Neil Patrick Harris's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benton lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Harris up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Benton from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Harris's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Grant Benton!
Our winner, Grant Benton, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.